Black powder catalyst for hydrogen production via steam reforming

ABSTRACT

A steam reforming catalyst that includes treated black powder (primarily hematite), and a method of treating black powder (e.g., from a natural gas pipeline) to give the treated black powder. A steam reformer having the treated black powder as reforming catalyst, and a method of producing syngas with the steam reformer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/140,236 filed on Jan. 4, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to hydrogen production via steam reforming of hydrocarbon.

BACKGROUND

Hydrogen is commercially produced, such as from fossil fuels. Hydrogen may be produced, for example, through reforming of hydrocarbons or electrolysis of water. Hydrogen is produced by coal gasification, biomass gasification, water electrolysis, or the reforming or partial oxidation of natural gas or other hydrocarbons. The produced hydrogen can be a feedstock to chemical processes, such as ammonia production, aromatization, hydrodesulfurization, and the hydrogenation or hydrocracking of hydrocarbons. The produced hydrogen can be a feedstock to electrochemical processes, such as fuel cells.

SUMMARY

An aspect relates to a method of steam reforming hydrocarbon, including reacting the hydrocarbon with steam via reforming catalyst to generate synthesis gas including hydrogen and carbon monoxide, wherein the reforming catalyst includes treated black powder having hematite.

Another aspect relates to a method of steam reforming hydrocarbon, including providing hydrocarbon and steam to a steam reformer vessel, wherein reforming catalyst including treated black powder is disposed in the steam reformer vessel. The method includes steam reforming the hydrocarbon in the steam reformer vessel via the reforming catalyst to generate hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and discharging the hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the steam reformer vessel.

Yet another aspect relates to a method of preparing a reforming catalyst for steam reforming methane, including receiving black powder and applying heat to the black powder to give heat-treated black powder. The method includes applying heat to the heat-treated black powder in presence of air to give a calcined black powder for steam reforming of methane, wherein a majority of the calcined black powder is hematite.

Yet another aspect relates to a reforming catalyst for reforming methane with steam, the reforming catalyst having at least 70 weight percent of hematite, wherein the hematite is both a support and active portion of the reforming catalyst, and wherein in steam reforming of the methane, the hematite being amphoteric advances both cracking of the methane and dissociation of the steam.

Yet another aspect is a steam reformer including a steam reformer vessel having at least one inlet to receive methane and steam. The steam reformer vessel has a reforming catalyst including calcined black powder to convert the methane and the steam into syngas. The steam reformer vessel has an outlet to discharge the syngas, wherein the syngas includes hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a pipe.

FIG. 2 is an x-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra of a sample of treated black powder.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a steam reformer for steam reforming hydrocarbon.

FIG. 4 is a block flow diagram of a method of steam reforming hydrocarbon.

FIG. 5 is a block flow diagram of method of preparing a reforming catalyst for steam reforming hydrocarbon (e.g., CH4).

FIG. 6 is a plot of the percent of H2 in effluent over time for the Example.

FIG. 7 is a depiction having three diagrams comparing behavior of different support types of reforming catalysts in the steam reforming of methane into syngas.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some aspects of the present disclosure are directed to collecting and processing black powder to give a catalyst (having hematite) that is utilized as reforming catalyst in steam methane reforming. The catalyst is the processed black powder and thus may be labeled as a derivative of black powder. The processing of the black powder may include both heat treatment (e.g., at least 500° C.) and subsequent calcination (e.g., at least 775° C.). The treatment of the black powder gives the catalyst having Iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3) also known as ferric oxide or hematite. This processing increases the amount of hematite (Fe2O3) in the black powder. Hematite (Fe2O3) is amphoteric and may be beneficial for catalysis in steam reforming of methane into syngas. Aspects of the present techniques relate to hydrogen production via steam reforming of hydrocarbon (e.g., methane) utilizing calcined black powder as the reforming catalyst.

In general, black powder is a solid contaminant often found in hydrocarbon gas pipelines. Black powder is debris in natural-gas pipelines formed by corrosion of the pipeline, such as on the inner surface of the inside diameter of the pipe. The black powder may be formed by corrosion of the internal surface of the pipeline wall. The term “black powder” describes regenerative debris formed inside natural gas pipelines due to corrosion of the internal wall of the pipeline. Black powder is generally regarded as a chronic nuisance that may be removed from the pipeline system, for example, by the use of a separator or cyclone. Black powder is considered a continuing problem as unwanted material removed from valuable process streams via filter bags, separators, or cyclones, and so on. The material may be wet, for example, having a tar-like appearance. The black powder be a very fine, dry powder. Black powder is primarily composed of iron oxides, silica and other metal carbonates, hydroxides, and sulfide iron carbonates. Black powder can include mill-like scale, such as hematite (Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4). Black powder is a waste present in the natural gas industry in relatively large amounts. Limited efforts have been exerted to utilize black powder, despite its availability in large amounts at almost no cost. The black powder can be collected from the pipelines, such as by a separator or from filters employed in upstream portions of gas refineries. Gas refineries may include natural gas processing plants or similar processing sites or facilities. The upstream filters (e.g., coreless filters) may be located before the gas processing plant (refineries) along the pipeline from the wellhead of the gas well (or oil and gas well). Also, these filters may be located at the inlet of gas processing plant refineries. The black powder may be collected from the filter units as the filter units are opened and cleaned, or collected as dumped nearby the filtration. In present embodiments, the black powder as retrieved may be transported to the treatment for forming the black powder catalyst.

As indicated, black powder is primarily found in gas pipelines between the wellhead and the natural gas processing plant. Black powder may be generally absent from gas pipelines downstream of the natural gas processing plant because acid gas (hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide), mercury, water, and gas condensate will have generally been removed from the natural gas. The removal of these contaminants reduces occurrence of black powder downstream of the natural gas processing plant.

Steam reforming is a process that may utilize both methane and steam as reactants to produce synthesis gas (syngas) with the aid of catalyst. The syngas may include hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO). Steam reforming of natural gas is the most common technique of producing commercial bulk hydrogen. In the steam reforming, methane (CH4) and steam (H2O) may be utilized to produce syngas including CO and H2. See equation [1] below for this steam reforming reaction. In addition, more H2, along with carbon dioxide (CO2), may be produced through the water gas-shift reaction. See equation [2] below for this water gas-shift reaction.

CH4+H2O

CO+3 H2   Equation [1]

CO+H2O

CO2+H2   Equation [2]

A challenge in steam reforming can be the high thermodynamic potential to coke formation. A problem in steam reforming can be solid-carbon formation in the steam-reformer reactor vessel. The solid carbon or carbonaceous material may be labeled as coke. Thus, the solid-carbon formation may be called coke formation. Deposition of the solid carbon as carbonaceous depositions on the reforming catalyst can reduce catalyst effectiveness and therefore lower conversion of the feed into syngas. Solid-carbon formation can lead to fast degradation of catalysts and cause reactor blockage. Thermodynamically, solid-carbon-formation reaction(s) in the steam reformer vessel can be a favorable reaction.

The type of the catalyst support and the presence of additives can significantly affect the coking tendency. A factor to consider is the catalyst support, whether or not the support has an active role in the catalytic reaction or is merely inert. The support may play a role in the reforming catalyst enhancing the steam reforming reaction (Equation [1]) to reduce coking, reduce energy consumption, and reduce CO2 emissions. Black powder as heat treated and calcined may be employed as a catalyst for steam reforming process because the black powder catalyst may primarily be Fe2O3. The Fe2O3 being amphoteric may promote the contemporaneous transpiring of methane cracking, steam-methane reacting, and oxidation of carbon species on the catalyst surface without the need to add or impregnate precious or non-precious metals nor the prerequisite to have specific basic sites on the catalyst substrate (support). Thus, calcined black powder may be beneficial as a catalyst for steam reforming because black powder as calcined in an air environment mainly consists (greater than 50 weight percent) of Fe2O3 (amphoteric) that can allow the simultaneous occurrence of methane cracking and steam dissociation to OH− and H+ in the steam reformer reactor. The black powder catalyst having primarily amphoteric Fe2O3 may allow such simultaneous occurrence without the need to add or impregnate metals (precious or non-precious) nor the need to have specific basic sites on the substrate of the catalyst. The term “amphoteric” may refer to a compound, such as a metal oxide or hydroxide, able to react both as a base and as an acid. The implementation of black powder catalyst in steam reforming may facilitate use of greenhouse gases (CH4) and waste material (black powder) to produce the valuable commodity syngas (CO and H2).

FIG. 1 is a pipe 100 (conduit) that may be piping or pipeline in a hydrocarbon gas (natural gas) system. The pipe 100 has a pipe wall 102 having a wall thickness. Black powder 104 is collected along the inner surface 106 of the pipe 100. The inner surface 106 is the internal surface of the inside diameter of the pipe 100. As indicated, black powder is regenerative and formed inside natural gas pipelines because of corrosion of the inner surface 106. Black powder forms through chemical reactions of iron (Fe) in ferrous pipeline steel with condensed water containing oxygen, CO2, and other gases. Black powder is mainly composed of iron hydroxides, iron oxides, and iron carbonates. The phrase black powder refers to the residue (material) that is formed along the inner surface of pipelines as a natural waste product as a result of corrosion and includes metal oxide. Again, black powder can be collected from upstream filters employed in gas refineries. For many years, pipeline companies have observed the presence of black powder and its effects, but have viewed black powder generally only as an annoyance and therefore have done little to understand or use black powder. Instead, pipeline companies have primarily sought ways of removing the black powder from the pipelines. There are several approaches to remove the black powder, such as via separators and cyclones, where the black powder-laden gas passes through these devices and the black powder particles are physically knocked out of the gas stream. For instance, the black powder particles are removed from the gas stream and attach to the walls of the device (e.g., separator, cyclone) where they fall and are collected at the bottom in a collection media. Pipeline companies generally do not recognize a beneficial use for the black powder. Throughout the world, black powder from gas pipelines exists in large amounts, and is thus readily available at a very low cost due to its perceived lack of value. Black powder is typically discarded as waste. As mentioned, in many cases, black powder is regenerative debris that is formed inside natural gas pipelines as a result of corrosion of the internal walls of the pipeline. Black powder can also be collected from upstream filters or filter bags used in gas refineries.

The typical major mineral composition of black powder without treatment is primarily iron oxide. The iron oxide includes magnetite (Fe3O4) and hematite (Fe2O3). The black powder also includes quartz (SiO2) and may include, metal carbonates, metal hydroxides, and sulfide iron carbonates. The Table below gives the elemental composition of a sample of example black powder “as is” (as collected) and also after the sample as “heat treated” (heat treatment at 500° C. for 3 hours). The heat treatment at 500° C. removes carbon associated with the metals, as indicated in the Table. The carbon may be converted to CO2. The elements listed in the Table are carbon (C), oxygen (O), magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si), sulfur (S), chlorine (Cl), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn). The composition is given in weight percent (wt %).

TABLE Elemental Composition of Black Powder *Black Powder “as is” **Black Powder “heat treated” Element (wt %) (wt %) C  20.85  0 O  29.29  25.39 Mg  1.07  1.08 Si  0.41  0.48 S  1.88  2.63 Cl  2.10  1.53 Ca  1.23  1.88 Fe  43.06  65.7 Mn non-detectable  1.32 Total 100 100 *as collected **after subjected to 500° C. for 3 hours

The sample of the heat-treated black powder was then subjected to additional heat treatment that was air calcination at about 775° C. for 4 hours. Particles of the resulting powder as analyzed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) were mainly hematite (Fe2O3) as shown in the XRD spectra in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 2 is XRD spectra 200 of a sample of the black powder after the black powder was (1) heat treated at 500° C. for 3 hours and (2) subjected to calcination in air at 775° C. for 4 hours. The scattering angle (or diffraction angle) is 2-theta in degrees. The spectra 200 indicates phase identification of black powder after being heat treated first at 500° C. for 3 hours and then at 775° C. for 4 hours. The heat treatment at both temperatures was performed under air. The heat treatment at 500° C. removes carbon (C). The heat treatment at 775° C. can be characterized as calcination. The calcination at 775° C. may promote further C removal and oxidize the metals present to a higher oxidation state. The x-ray diffraction of the calcined powder sample resulted in a pattern characterized by reflections (peaks in intensity) at certain positions. FIG. 2 indicates the minerals in the sample. The symbols 202 note the peaks for the primary mineral in the sample of calcined black powder, which is hematite. The symbols 204 note the peaks for the secondary mineral in the sample, which is iron oxide Fe5O7. The symbols 202 locate the spectra of hematite, which is the most intense peaks over the other iron form. The spectra 200 indicates that a majority of the calcined black-powder sample is hematite. In particular, the spectra 200 indicates that at least 80 wt % of the air-calcined black powder is hematite. Calcined black powder as described herein may have at least 50 wt % hematite, at least 60 wt % hematite, at least 70 wt % hematite, or at least 80 wt % hematite.

Black powder as collected from a natural gas pipeline system may have primarily magnetite and hematite. The black powder may be heat treated (e.g., at 500° C.) to remove carbon (including carbon deposition) from the black powder. This heat-treated black powder may be subjected to calcination (e.g., at 775° C.). For the calcination performed in an inert atmosphere, the calcination may drive formation of magnetite. In contrast, for the calcination performed in an air atmosphere, the calcination may drive formation of hematite. As for minerals in the air-calcined black powder, hematite may approach 100 wt %. As for the overall composition of the air-calcined black powder, the hematite is at least 50 wt % and can be at least 80 wt % or at least 90 wt %.

The reforming of natural gas is the most prevalent source of hydrogen production. Bulk hydrogen is typically produced by the steam reforming of natural gas (methane). Steam reforming includes heating the natural gas (e.g., to between 500° C. to 1100° C.) in the presence of steam. Conventional catalyst employed includes, for example, nickel, nickel alloys, or magnesium oxide (MgO). This endothermic reaction generates CO and H2. The CO gas can be subjected to a water-gas shift reaction to obtain additional hydrogen.

FIG. 3 is a steam reformer 300 (including a steam reformer vessel 302) to convert hydrocarbon (e.g., CH4) in presence of steam and reforming catalyst 304 into syngas. The steam reformer 300 may be a steam reformer system. The steam reformer 300 or steam reformer vessel 302 may be characterized as a steam reformer reactor or steam reformer reactor vessel, respectively, for the steam reforming of hydrocarbon (e.g., CH4) to give syngas. A reforming catalyst 304 that is air-calcined black powder (e.g., see spectra 200 of FIG. 2 ), as discussed above, is disposed in the steam reformer vessel 302. The reforming catalyst 304 as calcined black powder may be black powder (e.g., collected from a natural-gas pipeline system) that is heat treated at a temperature of at least 500° C. for at least 3 hours and calcined at a temperature of at least 775° C. in presence of air for at least 4 hours. A majority of the calcined black powder is hematite. At least 50 wt % of the reforming catalyst 304 may be hematite.

The steam reformer 300 may be, for instance, a fixed-bed reactor or a fluidized bed reactor. The steam reformer vessel 302 may be a fixed-bed reactor vessel having the reforming catalyst 304 in a fixed bed. In implementations, the fixed-bed reactor vessel may be a multi-tubular fixed-bed reactor. The steam reformer vessel 302 may be a fluidized-bed reactor vessel that operates with a fluidized bed of the reforming catalyst 304.

The operating temperature of the steam reformer 300 (the operating temperature in the steam reformer vessel 302) may be, for example, in the ranges of 500° C. to 1100° C., 500° C. to 1000° C., 500° C. to 900° C., at least 500° C., less than 1000° C., or less than 900° C. The steam reforming reaction may generally be endothermic. The steam reformer vessel 302 (steam-reformer reactor vessel) may have a jacket for heat transfer and temperature control. In operation, a heat transfer fluid (heating medium) may flow through the jacket for temperature control of the steam reformer 300 including the steam reformer vessel 302. Heat transfer may generally occur from the heat transfer fluid in the jacket to the steam-reforming reaction mixture (process side of the steam reformer vessel 302). In other embodiments, electrical heaters may provide heat for the endothermic steam-reforming reaction. The electrical heaters may be disposed in the steam reformer vessel 302 or on an external surface of the steam reformer vessel 302. In yet other embodiments, the steam reformer vessel 302 may be disposed in a furnace (e.g., a direct fired heater) to receive heat from the furnace for the steam reforming reaction and for temperature control of the steam reformer 300. Other configurations of heat transfer and temperature control of the steam reformer 300 are applicable.

The operating pressure in the steam reformer vessel 302 may be, for example, in the range of 1 bar to 28 bar, or less than 30 bar. In some implementations, the operating pressure may be greater than 30 bar to provide additional motive force for flow of the discharged syngas 310 to downstream processing. The downstream processing may include, for example, a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) system having a FT reactor vessel.

In operation, the steam reformer vessel 302 may receive feed that includes hydrocarbon 306 and steam 308. While the hydrocarbon 306 and steam 308 are depicted as introduced separately into the steam reformer vessel 302, the hydrocarbon 306 and steam 308 may be introduced together as combined feed to the steam reformer vessel 302 in some implementations. The hydrocarbon 306 may generally include CH4. For example, the hydrocarbon 306 stream may be or include natural gas. In other examples, the hydrocarbon 306 includes CH4 but is not a natural-gas stream. The hydrocarbon 306 may be a process stream or waste stream having CH4. The hydrocarbon 306 may include CH4, propane, butane, and hydrocarbons having a greater number of carbons. The hydrocarbon 306 may include a mixture of hydrocarbons (e.g., C1 to C5), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and so on. Additional implementations of the hydrocarbon 306 (e.g., having CH4) are applicable.

The steam reforming of the hydrocarbon 306 may give syngas 310 having H2 and CO. The steam reforming reaction via the catalyst 304 in the steam reformer vessel 302 may be represented by CH4+H2O

CO+3 H2 (Equation [1]). The molar ratio of H2 to CO in the syngas 310 based on the ideal thermodynamic equilibrium is 3:1 but in practice can be different than 3:1. Unreacted CH4 may discharge in the syngas 310 stream. In some implementations, unreacted CH4 may be separated from the discharged syngas 310 and recycled to the steam reformer vessel 302. Moreover, the generated CO may be subjected to a water-gas shift reaction to obtain additional H2, as given by CO+H2O

CO2+H2 (Equation [2]). The water-gas shift reaction may be performed in the steam reformer vessel 302. The reforming catalyst 304 may promote the water-gas shift reaction if implemented. The water-gas shift reaction may instead be implemented downstream. The discharged syngas 310 may be processed to implement the water-gas shift reaction downstream of the steam reformer vessel 302. Utilization of the water-gas shift reaction, whether performed in the steam reformer vessel 302 or downstream of the steam reformer vessel 302, may be beneficial to increase the molar ratio of H2/CO in the syngas 310 for downstream processing of the syngas 310. The downstream processing may include, for example, an FT reactor or other processing. In certain implementations, the molar ratio of H2/CO may also be increased with the addition of supplemental H2 (e.g., from water electrolysis) to the discharged syngas 310.

The steam reformer 300 system includes feed conduits for the hydrocarbon 306 and steam 308, and a discharge conduit for the syngas 310. The steam reformer vessel 302 may be, for example, stainless steel. The steam reformer 302 vessel has one or more inlets to receive the feeds (e.g., 306, 308). The inlet(s) may be, for example, a nozzle having a flange or threaded (screwed) connection for coupling to a feed conduit conveying the feed to the steam reformer vessel 302. The vessel 302 may have an outlet (e.g., a nozzle with a flanged or screwed connection) for the discharge of produced syngas 310 through a discharge conduit for distribution or downstream processing. The flow rate (e.g., volumetric rate, mass rate, or molar rate) of the feed 306, 308 may be controlled via at least one flow control valve (disposed along a supply conduit) or by a mechanical compressor, or a combination thereof. The ratio (e.g., molar, volumetric, or mass ratio) for hydrocarbon 306 and steam 308 may be adjusted by modulating (e.g., via one or more control valves) at least one of the flow rates of the hydrocarbon or steam streams. The ratio may be based on CH4 or natural gas in the hydrocarbon 306. Lastly, as should be apparent for implementations, dry reforming is generally not performed because steam is present. Further, the present steam reforming may be a technique for conversion of steam and CH4 into syngas without the introduction of CO2 or oxygen (O2). Thus, embodiments of the steam reforming are not dry reforming, not mixed-steam CO2 reforming (MSCR), and not autothermal reforming (ATR). However, the present treated black powder can be applicable as a reforming catalyst for dry reforming, MSCR, ATR, and bi-reforming.

An embodiment is a steam reformer including a steam reformer vessel. The steam reformer vessel has at least one inlet to receive methane and steam. The steam reformer vessel has a reforming catalyst disposed in the vessel to convert the methane and the steam into syngas. The reforming catalyst includes or is calcined black powder. The reforming catalyst having or as the calcined black powder may be at least 50 wt % hematite. The steam reformer vessel has an outlet to discharge the syngas, wherein the syngas includes H2 and CO. The steam reformer vessel may be a fixed-bed reactor vessel having the reforming catalyst in a fixed bed. If so, the fixed-bed reactor vessel may be a multi-tubular fixed-bed reactor. The steam reformer vessel may be a fluidized-bed reactor vessel to operate with a fluidized bed of the reforming catalyst.

FIG. 4 is a method 400 of steam reforming hydrocarbon. The hydrocarbon may include CH4 and can be or include natural gas. The hydrocarbon may be a process stream or waste stream having CH4. The hydrocarbon may include CH4, propane, butane, and hydrocarbons having a greater number of carbons.

At block 402, the method includes providing the hydrocarbon and steam to a steam reformer (e.g., to a steam reformer vessel). Reforming catalyst that is or includes treated black powder (processed black powder) is disposed in the steam reformer vessel. The treated black powder may be calcined black powder, as discussed. The reforming catalyst may be the present reforming catalyst as discussed above and as described in FIG. 5 .

At block 404, the method include steam reforming the hydrocarbon in the steam reformer via the reforming catalyst to generate H2 and CO. The steam reforming involves reacting the hydrocarbon with the steam via the treated black powder as the reforming catalyst. The method may include providing heat to the steam reformer (e.g., to the steam reformer vessel) for the steam reforming involving the reacting of the hydrocarbon with the steam, wherein the reacting of the hydrocarbon with the steam is endothermic. Heat may be provided by external electrical heaters residing on the surface of the steam reformer vessel. Heat may be provided by situating the steam reformer vessel in a furnace. Other techniques for providing heat to the steam reformer are applicable.

The reforming catalyst having amphoteric hematite may beneficially provide in the steam reforming for both methane cracking and steam dissociation to OH− and H+. The amphoteric tendency of hematite may allow for the dissociation of water and cracking of methane. See, e.g., FIG. 7 . Oxidation of carbon species on the catalyst surface may also be realized in the steam methane reforming reaction. The hematite being amphoteric (able to react both as a base and as an acid) may aid or promote methane cracking, steam dissociation to OH− and H+, and oxidation of carbon species on its surface.

At block 406, the method includes discharging the H2 and CO from the steam reformer (e.g., from the steam reformer vessel). The discharged stream having the H2 and CO may be labeled as syngas. The syngas may be sent to transportation or distribution. The syngas may be sent to downstream processing. In some embodiments, supplemental H2 may added to the syngas to increase the molar ratio of H2 to CO in the syngas. In certain embodiments, the water-gas shift reaction may be implemented in the steam reformer vessel or downstream of the steam reformer vessel to generate additional H2 to increase the molar ratio of H2 to CO in the syngas.

An embodiment is a method of steam reforming hydrocarbon, such as CH4. The method includes reacting the hydrocarbon with steam via reforming catalyst to generate synthesis gas including H2 and CO. The reforming catalyst is or includes treated black powder that includes hematite. The hematite may be at least 50 wt % of the treated black powder. The treated black powder may be black powder from a natural gas pipeline and that is subjected to heat to give the treated black powder. The treated black powder may be black powder collected from a natural-gas pipeline system and that is subjected to heat in presence of air to give the treated black powder. The treated black powder may include black powder subjected to heat treatment at a temperature of at least 500° C. for at least 3 hours. The treated black powder may include calcined black powder. The treated black powder may include black powder subjected to heat treatment at a temperature of at least 775° C. in presence of air for at least 4 hours, and wherein this heat treatment includes air calcination of the black powder. The treated black powder may be or include black powder subjected to heat treatment at a temperature of at least 500° C. to remove carbon from the black powder and then subjected to air calcination at a temperature of at least 775° C. to give calcined black powder as the treated black powder.

FIG. 5 is a method 500 of preparing a reforming catalyst for steam reforming hydrocarbon (e.g., CH4). At block 502, the method includes collecting black powder. Black powder may be collected as discussed above. The black powder may be collected (removed) from a natural-gas pipeline system. The natural-gas pipeline system may include a natural gas pipeline(s) including piping, mechanical compressors, filters, separators, etc.

At block 504, the method includes receiving black powder. The black powder may be received at a location or facility to treat (e.g., heat treat, calcine, etc.) the black powder. The receiving of the black powder comprises may involve receiving the black powder collected from a natural-gas pipeline system.

At block 506, the method includes applying heat to the black powder to remove carbon (e.g., carbon deposition) from the black powder. The black powder received may be placed, for example, in an industrial oven (e.g., industrial-scale heat regenerator) to heat the black powder. The application of the heat may involve applying the heat at a temperature of at least 500° C. for at least 3 hours to remove the carbon from the black powder. The applying of heat to the black powder to remove carbon from the black powder gives a heat-treated black powder. This applying of heat for the Example below was applied in the laboratory with a typical oven that was a muffle furnace.

At block 508, the method includes calcining the black powder in presence of air to give calcined black powder as the reforming catalyst. The calcined black powder generally includes hematite. The calcining the black powder may involve calcining the heat-treated black powder (block 506) in the presence of air to give the calcined black powder as the reforming catalyst. The calcining may involve applying heat to the black powder in the presence of air at a temperature of at least 775° C. for at least 4 hours to give the calcined black powder as the reforming catalyst, wherein the hematite is at least 50 wt % of the calcined black powder. An example of equipment to subject the heat-treated black powder to calcination at about 775° C. or greater for at least four hours is a vessel in a furnace. In some implementations, the calciner is a steel cylinder having the black powder in an air atmosphere in the steel cylinder, and the steel cylinder rotates in a furnace to heat the black powder to about 775° C. or greater (in the air atmosphere inside the cylinder) for at least four hours. Calcination may be heating to high temperatures in air or oxygen. Calcination may be referred to as “firing” or “fired.” Calcining may remove unwanted volatiles from a material and convert a material into a more stable, durable, or harder state. In present embodiments, example conditions of the calcination include calcining the black powder in air at a temperature in a range of 700° C. to 800° C. for at least 4 hours. The main compound (e.g., up to 90 wt %, or at least 90 wt %) of the air-calcined black powder may be Fe2O3. The remainder of the air-calcined black powder may include small amounts or trace elements of other oxides, such as other iron oxides or silicon oxide (SiO2). In some implementations, SiO2 may dominate the remainder of air-calcined black powder. The mineral SiO2 is not listed on FIG. 2 because SiO2 was below the detection limit of the used XRD device. However, the SiO2 present in the FIG. 2 sample was detected by x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis.

At block 510, the method includes supplying the calcined black powder formed in block 508 as the reforming catalyst for steam reforming of methane. The calcined powder may be removed from the calcination equipment (e.g., vessel) and transported to a facility that steam reforms methane. The calcined black powder as reforming catalyst may be placed into a steam-reformer reactor vessel.

An embodiment is of preparing a reforming catalyst for steam reforming methane. The method includes receiving black powder and applying heat to the black powder to give heat-treated black powder. The applying of heat to the black powder may involve applying the heat at a temperature of at least 500° C. to give the heat-treated black powder. The method includes applying heat to the heat-treated black powder in presence of air to give a calcined black powder, wherein a majority of the calcined black powder is hematite. The applying of heat to the heat-treated black powder may involve applying the heat to the heat-treated black powder at a temperature of at least 775° C. in the presence of air to give the calcined black powder. The reforming catalyst may be or include the calcined black powder.

EXAMPLE

In the laboratory, the performance of the present heat-treated/calcined black powder (primarily hematite) to generate hydrogen in steam reforming of methane was compared to performance of a conventional reforming catalyst having the universal basic catalyst substrate of MgO to generate hydrogen in steam reforming of methane. The MgO is both a support and the active catalyst. The steam-reforming performance of the present treated black powder versus the steam-reforming performance of the conventional MgO were compared at the same conditions of steam reforming. The steam reforming conditions included 750° C., 14 bar, and a gas hour space velocity (GHSV) of 5166 h⁻¹.

FIG. 6 depicts results of the Example comparison, which show a better performance by the heat-treated/calcined black powder having primarily Fe2O3 (amphoteric) as compared to the non-amphoteric (solely basic) MgO. FIG. 6 is a plot of the percent (mol %) of H2 in the effluent over time (hours). The time was the experiment time of the steam reforming in the laboratory. The curve 602 is the mol % H2 in the effluent with the steam reforming catalyst as the heat-treated/calcined black powder. The curve 604 is the mol % H2 in the effluent with the steam reforming catalyst as the MgO.

The steam reforming in the Example laboratory evaluation was performed in a Microactivity Effi microreactor (compact reactor) system available from PID Eng & Tech (Madrid, Spain) having Micromeritics Instrument Corp. as parent corporation. The microreactor allows operation at pressures up to 100 bars. In the Example, 3 milliliters (ml) of the prepared black powder was loaded on the microreactor with a diameter of 9 millimeter (mm) Hastelloy tube and placed inside an electrical furnace. The prepared black powder (FIG. 2 ) was the black powder subjected to heat at 500° C. for 3 hours and then calcined at 775° C. for 4 hours. The prepared black powder was reduced with H2 and nitrogen (N2) at 750° C. for 6 hours before the reforming reaction was started. This reduction of the catalyst may make the catalyst more active for the steam reforming reaction. Then, a mixture of CH4, steam, and N2 were fed to the microreactor. The steam/carbon molar ratio in the feed was 2.83. The N2 was fed into the microreactor in order to give the GHSV of 5166 h⁻¹. The treated black-powder catalyst was gradually pressurized and tested at 14 bar and 750° C. while feeding the mixture of CH4, steam, and N2. The same was performed for the MgO (3 ml) catalyst support at the same conditions as well. Testing for each was performed for about 6 hours. The produced gas was analyzed by the gas chromatography (GC, Agilent 7890B) equipped with a thermal conductivity detector (TCD) and a flame ionization detector (FID). Before analysis, water in the gas was removed with a liquid/gas separator and a moisture trap. The concentrations of H2 were determined with the TCD. The mol composition from the GC was converted quantitatively based on the amount of N2 in the produced gas.

FIG. 7 is a depiction 700 comparing behavior of different support types of reforming catalysts in the steam reforming of methane into syngas. The diagram 702 is for amphoteric support catalysts, such as catalyst that is Fe2O3 or the present treated (processed) black powder having primarily Fe2O3. The catalyst in diagram 702 provides for (allows) both CH4 cracking and steam (H2O) dissociation, and which may occur contemporaneously or simultaneously in the steam reforming. The diagram 704 is for acidic support catalysts (e.g., silicon oxide or SiO2). The catalyst in diagram 704 provides for (allows) CH4 cracking but generally not steam (H2O) dissociation in the steam reforming. The diagram 706 is for basic support catalysts (e.g., MgO). The catalyst in diagram 706 provides for (allows) steam (H2O) dissociation but generally not CH4 cracking in the steam reforming.

Iron groups consisting of Ni, Co, and Fe possess a high activity toward hydrocarbon cracking, with Fe being the lowest activity among the group. However, with respect to the diagram 702, the Fe2O3 being amphoteric may avoid the need to add or impregnate precious or non-precious metals to the catalyst. The air-calcined black powder as a catalyst for steam reforming process may be advantageous because it mainly consists of the amphoteric (acidic and basic) Fe2O3, which generally allows for the simultaneous occurrence of methane cracking and steam dissociation to OH− and H+ without the need to add/impregnate precious or non-precious metals nor the need to have specific basic sites on the substrate.

An embodiment is a reforming catalyst for reforming methane with steam. The reforming catalyst includes or is calcined black powder that is black powder heat treated at a temperature of at least 500° C. for at least 3 hours and calcined at a temperature of at least 775° C. in presence of air for at least 4 hours. The black powder is from a natural gas pipeline. A majority of the calcined black powder is hematite. The hematite may be both a support and active portion of the reforming catalyst. The hematite being amphoteric may advance both cracking of the methane and dissociation of the steam.

Another embodiment is a reforming catalyst for reforming methane with steam. The reforming catalyst has at least 70 wt % (or at least 80 wt %) of hematite. The hematite is both a support and catalytic active portion of the reforming catalyst. The hematite being amphoteric advances both cracking of the methane and dissociation of the steam in steam reforming of the methane. The reforming catalyst may be or include calcined black powder having the hematite. The calcined black powder is black powder heat treated at a temperature of at least 500° C. for at least 3 hours and calcined at a temperature of at least 775° C. in presence of air for at least 4 hours. The black powder is from a natural gas pipeline.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of preparing a reforming catalyst for steam reforming methane, comprising: receiving black powder; applying heat to the black powder to remove carbon from the black powder; and calcining the black powder in presence of air to give calcined black powder as the reforming catalyst, wherein the calcined black powder comprises hematite.
 2. The method of claim 1, comprising collecting the black powder from a natural-gas pipeline system.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the black powder comprises receiving the black powder collected from a natural-gas pipeline system, wherein applying heat to the black powder to remove carbon from the black powder gives a heat-treated black powder, and wherein calcining the black powder comprises calcining the heat-treated black powder in the presence of air to give the calcined black powder as the reforming catalyst.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying heat comprises applying the heat at a temperature of at least 500° C. for at least 3 hours to remove the carbon from the black powder.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the calcining comprises applying heat to the black powder in the presence of air at a temperature of at least 775° C. for at least 4 hours to give the calcined black powder as the reforming catalyst, wherein the hematite is at least 50 weight percent of the calcined black powder. 